Kante is not prepared to slow down though and has already set his sights on the Champions League, with the midfielder set to play in the competition for the first time following Chelsea's Premier League success.

"Nest season will be a new challenge because we are going to try to keep the title, to win the two cups [FA Cup and EFL Cup] and also we'll have the Champions League," Kante said when picking up his FWA award.

"For a club like Chelsea, we want to win everything, we're going to try and win everything. It's a new challenge for everyone."

Kante polled the most votes among the 340-strong FWA membership, beating team-mate Eden Hazard and third-placed Dele Alli to the award.

Kante says Antonio Conte set out a clear plan for him as soon as the Chelsea boss signed him

The former Caen midfielder's tenacious work in Antonio Conte's 3-4-3 system has allowed the likes of Hazard a liberated role, and Kante has put Chelsea's success firmly down to the Blues head coach.

"He [Conte] had a very clear idea of what he wanted from the team, and from me," Kante added. "Since I joined Chelsea he puts a winning mentality on everyone.

"The hard work, the important little details, he's a winner. He's a hard worker, he wants to work, work and repeat in every training session to win at the weekend."